Adages abound telling us not to point fingers or throw stones. Who is pure? None of us earthlings. We flash and flare, but volatility goes nowhere. The Bible says we all fall short of God’s glory. I think this statement can be phrased another way. We all fall short of our own glory. When we fall flat the best policy is to admit them and move on. *A little disclaimer here: This statement is not to be construed as the final judgment on Northam. Excuses and explanations he gives do seem odd. I defer that situation to the more informed.
Be on the lookout for more shortcomings
Let us claw our way back to the Biblical vantage point. After recognizing prior misinterpretation, I must frame where I go from here. There must be a wide array of things yet unimproved. God’s grace deals gently with our shortcomings, and his power helps us to overcome them.
When our lookout shows us shortcomings in the lives of others how will we respond? Like God with forgiveness? Or like those who condemn? Trouble is those who condemn may yet find themselves in need.
Bowing: the proper approach
14 For this
reason I bow my knees before the Father, (Ephesians 3:14–ESV)
Paul takes the right pose. Kneeling physically is not essential, otherwise, how would the wheelchair-bound Christian do it? Heart-stance over body-stance is the implication of Paul. It means submission, obedience, deference to the creator. That is the proper stance for humans no matter their reason for approaching God.
Paul, thus, comes into the presence of God-over-all, kneels and then prays. That verse is an introduction to what follows.
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
(Ephesians 3:16–ESV)
This verse and those which follow are the subject of his bowing. He tells the Ephesian Christians what he prays for. Look at the bigness of God Paul paints with.
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